Reopening the nuclear option

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · IEEE Power Engineering Review

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MPER.1995.391597· OSTI ID:451973

Douglas, J

Working closely with utilities, nuclear industry groups, regulatory agencies, and major vendors, EPRI is supporting the design of a new generation of reactors. With new orders for baseload power plants stalled in this country, what would it take to rekindle utility interest in the nuclear option? EPRI asked the question, and utilities answered specifically. Plants must be: Simpler and have higher design margins and enhanced safety features; economically competitive with other forms of generation; standardized; prelicensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). As tall as this order may seem, four advanced light water reactors (ALWRs), all based on these utility requirements, are being designed by three major vendors, and a version of one of these plants is actually under construction in Japan. Just recently, the NRC issued final design approvals for two of the designs and also issued a favorable safety evaluation report on the EPRI Utility Requirements Document. Working closely with utilities, industry groups, and regulatory agencies, EPRI is making a key contribution to the reopening of the nuclear option.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 451973
• Journal Information: IEEE Power Engineering Review, Journal Name: IEEE Power Engineering Review Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 15; ISSN 0272-1724; ISSN IPERDV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
EPRI
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR SAFETY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT